Shima Mountain, a deep valley somewhere.

The generals of the North and West Roads who fled from the Runzhou to this place were all over the valley, standing, standing, or lying, and they no longer had the arrogance of being the Western Army. Many soldiers sat against the rocks with their guns in their arms, their eyes glazed and their expressions miserable. The army has run out of food, and for a whole day, many soldiers have not eaten a grain of rice, and not a drop of water has been stained. Cold, hunger, thirst, and fear gnaw at these Guanshan warriors. Coupled with the wounded soldiers who were lying on the ground and constantly moaning and wailing, the last bit of energy of the Western Army was also exhausted.

Yao Pingzhong sat on a large rock in the middle of the valley, his helmet was gone, his hair was scattered, almost covering half of his face, and the majestic man was pale and his lips were chapped because of the cold and hunger. On his armor, there were three or four marks cut by knives and guns, and one of them obviously penetrated the armor, injuring the flesh and skin.

He was holding a phoenix-beaked knife in his hand, and he was holding a stone and sharpening the edge of the blade. The generals and soldiers were all around him, but there were so many people, but the valley was surprisingly quiet, and it seemed that no one wanted to talk, and no one wanted to look back on the defeat under the city of Yanzhou...... "Ask for the minister." A warrior with torn armor and hanging his left arm handed him a steaming bowl of soup.

Yao Xiyan looked up, there was a big bowl of soup with oil flowers, and there was a bone stick in it, and he knew at a glance that this was the bone of a war horse. His throat squirmed unconsciously, he lowered his head and said casually, "Give this soup to the brothers on the front line of Taniguchi." ”

"Xianggong didn't close his eyes for two days and two nights, and he didn't eat or drink all day today, and the iron-beaten man couldn't stand it, so he had to ......," the general persuaded kindly.

Yao Pingzhong threw the stone in his hand violently and said sharply: "Didn't you hear my order!" ”

His voice was very loud, and this shout caused the generals in the valley to look sideways. The general lowered his head and stood there for a moment, finally sighing softly and turning to leave.

After testing the edge with his thumb, Yao Pingzhong put the knife aside, sat on the boulder, and looked up at the sky from the top of the valley. After being trapped for four days, almost all the food that could be eaten in the army was eaten, and even the war horses were slaughtered and cooked. You can last a few days without food, but without water to drink, it's really maddening!

He still couldn't help but think of the battle of Dunzhou, which was stormed for dozens of days, but it was like a fortress made of iron and gold, and the city could not be broken, and many brothers fell under the city wall. Let Zhang Jun lead his troops to the north of the city of Juzhou to prevent the Jin army from going south for reinforcements. But when the main force of the Jin army galloped along Luoshui to help, Zhang Jun didn't even hold out for half an hour before they all retreated. Jingyuan Road in the Western Army, has always been a strong soldier, from the old Xu Jing slightly Xiang Xu Mao in charge of the handsome seal, Jingyuan Road faintly has the posture of the head of all roads. If you want to say that 20,000 Jingyuan soldiers can't even hold out for half an hour, the ghost will believe it!

As soon as he ran, he directly shook the military heart of the Xihe soldiers! When the reinforcements of the Jin army and the defenders of the city came together, the result can be imagined. After the palace himself, he protected the retreat of the army, but when he arrived at this Stone Horse Mountain, he was sleepy and tired, and he was finally caught up by the Jin army. In a panic, he could only flee into the valley for temporary refuge.

But in this way, they entered a dead alley, and the Jin army could not storm the city, so they rushed the roads everywhere and set up camps to besiege them. The most terrible thing was that during the rout, the soldiers threw down almost all the grain and grass baggage. Now, even if the Jin army does not attack, the whole army will collapse in two days at most!

I think of me Yao Pingzhong, born in a family of martial arts, I followed my father and brother to fight on the battlefield when I was a teenager, and the heroes of Guanzhong raised me and gave me a nickname "Little Taiwei", all of whom thought that I would sooner or later be the highest military rank of a military minister. Hmph, now it seems that if you want to be a captain, I'm afraid you have to rely on the court's posthumous gift.

A few people came in at the corner of the valley, in addition to the embarrassed general, there was also a person, wearing a straight jacket inside, covered with fur, and carrying a horse whip in his hand. Several generals brought him to Yao Pingzhong, and one general said, "Xianggong, the envoy of the Jin army has arrived." ”

Yao Pingzhong grabbed the phoenix mouth knife without a trace, stood up with the knife on the ground, and looked at the man. When you are in your forties, you can see that there are few books and you haven't read, and the martial artists can't look like this. Small nose, small eyes, a few long whiskers pretending to be tall. When he saw himself, he didn't salute, but just stared directly.

"The Golden Dog asked you to be a lobbyist?" Yao Xiyan asked directly.

The man smiled indifferently and nodded, "Exactly." ”

Yao Pingzhong laughed cruelly and slapped the big knife in his hand: "I just sharpened this knife, say it, if it doesn't make sense, I want your head." ”

The golden envoy was obviously a person who had seen a big scene, and laughed loudly: "It's not easy to get the prime minister to want my head?" In the next generation of scholars, I have no power to restrain the chicken, and I don't have to do anything to do it, even any soldier can easily take my life. It's just that if you kill it, what good will it do to the soldiers of the Western Army? ”

Yao Xiyan looked fierce, showed a mouthful of white Sensen's teeth and smiled hideously: "There is a shortage of food in the army, and I want to eat human flesh!" ”

The golden envoy was really shocked! But he immediately calmed his mind and said with a smile: "Xianggong doesn't have to be strong, he is here to point out a way out for the brothers of the Western Army." Whether it is survival or death, it is all in the same thought. ”

Yao Pingzhong scraped his fingers down the edge of the blade and did not answer. At this time, the attention of the generals in the valley was focused on the golden envoy to see how he lobbied.

"Shaanxi Zhulu Jin army is all in charge, Yelu Ma Wu, I have long heard that the prestige of Xiao Taiwei shocked Guan Long, and when I learned that the leader of the army was Xianggong You, I categorically ordered to stop the attack. Yeludu said that among all the commanders and guards of the Western Army, there were only three people whom he admired the most. The golden envoy deliberately paused when he said this.

Yao Pingzhong turned his head and asked, "Which three?" ”

"The first is the veteran commander of the Western Army who relieved the siege of Taiyuan back then. The family has been famous for several generations, and his brother is the emperor of our Dajin, and the clan and noble generals have heard of it for a long time. The breeder will be famous all over the world, and he will be regarded as a hero! ”

Yao Pingzhong nodded and said, "Go on." ”

"The second is to ask for you. Xihe Yao's reputation, the reputation is not under the breeder, the Hehuang Prefectures have to be guarded by the Yao family, and it is difficult for the party to cross the thunder pool by half a step. And Xiang Gong was young and enlisted, and Guan Zhong was called 'Little Taiwei', which is enough to show the weight of the weight. ”

"And what about the third?" Yao Pingzhong asked again.

"The third one, Xiang Gong must recognize it, it is said that he and Xiang Gong are both military ministers personally promoted by the Zhao official family, and they have to be reused. The golden envoy said.

Yao Pingzhong sighed: "You mean Xu Jiu." ”

"Not bad!" Seeing that the other party had been listening, the envoy did not refuse directly, knowing that there was a door, and became more and more active. "Xianggong is a person respected by the commander of our army, and Yeludu really can't bear to see the two armies fighting together. Therefore, he was sent down to the mountain to meet the prime minister and agreed on three things. ”

"Straight to the point." Yao Pingzhong turned to him head-on, clutching the big knife in his hand.

"First, as long as the prime minister is willing to submit to Dajin, the position should not be under Zhang Shen." Jin makes the right color road.

Yao Pingzhong couldn't help but laugh when he compared himself to Zhang Shen.

"Second, if you are willing to surrender, the officers and soldiers of the department will be preserved! Outside the mountain, there are hot beef and mutton, fragrant and soft white bread, and delicious meat soup. Yelu Dutong guarantees that the Ministry of the Prime Minister will not be broken up or reorganized, and it will still be under your command. ”

Yao Pingzhong nodded and motioned for him to continue.

"Third, after Xiang Gong abandoned the secret and surrendered to the light, he introduced the soldiers and horses of the department as the vanguard of the whole army, and when Chang'an City was taken, Xiang Gong would be in charge."

Yao Pingzhong listened and asked casually, "That's all?" Gone? ”

The golden envoy looked at him suspiciously, and said tentatively: "Of course, if there are any conditions for the prime minister, he can also put them forward." Although he can't be the master, he can run errands for the minister. For the sake of the life of this mountain soldier, and for the prestige of the Xianggong, please consider carefully. ”

Yao Pingzhong thought for a while and asked an inexplicable question: "I want to ask you, Jin Ren allowed me to be above Zhang Shen, which means that I Yao still have a few catties." But I just want to know, if Xu Wei surrenders, what price do you give? ”

The Jin envoy was stunned, he was stunned to understand what the other party meant? Xu Wei? He surrendered? Isn't this a fool's dream? The Purple Gold Tiger is a great rival of Dajin, how can he surrender? However, judging from the reputation and strength of the Purple Golden Tiger, if he is really willing to surrender, I am afraid that only by sealing the entire territory of Shaanxi to him will it be compatible. It's just that, of course, he couldn't say it to Yao Pingzhong, thought for a moment, and replied: "In the past, against the Hu'er Army, our army once made a promise that if Xu Wei was captured alive, he would be rewarded with five horses. From this point of view, in the eyes of Dajin, Xu Wei is just a bear and a tiger, and gold and silver are enough, and the prince is naturally not the same. ”

Yao Pingzhong suddenly looked up to the sky and laughed, and everyone on the left and right changed color!

"I tell you! Now in Shaanxi, the only person I can admire Yao Pingzhong is Xu Jiu! In order to trick me into surrendering, you dare to say anything, dare to promise anything, so it shows your sincerity! Yao Pingzhong said and changed the phoenix mouth knife to a hand.

The Jin envoy subconsciously took a step back, and said a little nervously: "In the next sentence, there is no intention of deceiving at all. ”

"Humph! You can keep this in the underworld and tell the judge! Yao Pingzhong's voice was fierce.

The golden envoy hurriedly stretched out his hand to block it, and said quickly: "The two armies will not fight and will not kill the envoy, besides, I am here for the lives of my brothers in the Western Army, and I will ...... you."

Yao Pingzhong also took a step back, and his right foot suddenly flew up and kicked on the hilt! Taking advantage of the big knife to rise, he clenched his hands and swept with a thousand swords!

The golden envoy's head jumped high, and the blood rain that sprayed from his neck sprinkled all over the ground! The headless corpse stood still for a moment before falling to the ground!

There was a dead silence in the valley! The act of soliciting the prime minister has unmistakably told everyone his attitude.

"Ping Zhongshi has received the grace of the country, and there is no way to repay it! Defeated in Dunzhou, a Jedi with exhausted mountains and rivers! Without him, only death! It is my duty to be a warrior of my generation, who was ordered to forget his home and die in state affairs! If you get the horse leather shroud, it will be enough to pay for it! Now that we are in a difficult situation at home and abroad, Ping Zhong is willing to fight with his brothers until the last moment! Yao Pingzhong's voice spread in all directions.

At that time, all the officers and soldiers in the valley were sad when they heard this.

"This head is sent back to the golden dog! So that Na Yelu Ma Wu knew that in the Western Army, not everyone is as incorruptible and shameless as Zhang Wei! Sticking the bloody knife into the ground, the little lieutenant ordered.

When even a soldier came and held the head, dragging the corpse. An old general who had followed the Yao clan for many years stepped forward and said: "Xiao Jingluo, when the Jin people see that they can't persuade them to surrender, they will raise troops to attack." Our sergeants are tired, their rations have run out, and they can no longer support them. There are wild paths in this mountain, although dangerous, but it is a way of life. You might as well ...... the little scripture"

"You want to persuade me to abandon the crowd and flee?" Yao Pingzhong was furious!

"Leaving this useful body is always better than fighting a trapped beast. The department has followed the old commander for many years, fought all his life, and talked about life and death early. Let's replace the prime minister with a lowly position and make a last stand. The old general said bluntly.

Yao Pingzhong choked up for a while, the veteran in front of him had served in front of the army since his grandfather commanded the army, fought in Hehuang, and rarely met opponents. Now, in his own generation, he wants to let him die in this Stone Horse Mountain...... With a pain in his heart, the little lieutenant turned his back to the sky, two lines of hot tears ran down his cheeks, and said softly: "No matter what, I must take the brother out." Forty thousand Xihe soldiers followed me eastward, if I fled alone, how would I see Xihe's father? ”

When the soldiers around heard this, they all shed tears and expressed their willingness to follow the Zhaogong and bury their bones in the Shima Mountain!

Yao Pingzhong beheaded the envoy and returned the head, which greatly angered the generals of the Jin army. Such as evacuating and drinking the generals, in anger, Gu raised troops and attacked. But Ma Wu refused to give the order, and now he went to attack, Yao Pingzhong still had the strength to fight back, so there was no need to make such a senseless consumption. Waiting for him for two days, he will be in chaos without a fight, not to mention, the Song Army North Road Recruitment Division who is guarding the valley mouth has agreed to surrender against the water. Wouldn't it be convenient to wait for them to come and attack when the Western Army collapsed?

At present, because the Jin army seized the equipment, grain, grass and other materials of the Western Army, Ma Wu took advantage of this gap and ordered the temporarily unused shipments to be transported back to Dunzhou.

In the first battle of the same day, the western army retreated, and the soldiers not only abandoned all the grain and grass baggage. Even weapons and armor were lost, including well-made bows, crossbows, knives, axes and other sharp weapons. The Jin army gathered grain, grass, weapons, chariots, etc., packed more than 100 carts, and sent a detachment of divisions to transport them to Yanzhou.

On the second day of December, snowflakes fell sporadically in the sky, and although they did not accumulate in the end, the weather continued to get colder, which made the situation of the soldiers of the Western Army who lacked food and clothing even more difficult. The wounded in the army, a large number of them froze to death and starved to death, and they were talking to you not long ago, but in the blink of an eye, they became a stiff and cold corpse. Morale had hit rock bottom, and Yao Pingzhong knew that he wouldn't last long. He also knew that now it was called that the heavens should not be called, and the earth was not spiritual, and no one would come to save him, and no one would have the ability to save him.

An incident that happened on the night of the second year of junior high school was tantamount to a disaster for this remnant army.

The North Road recruited Sidu to control the lower reaches of the Yi army under Zhang Jun's command, self-control of the following thousands of people, give up the entrance to the valley guarded by the town, break away from the Western Army, and surrender against the water! This matter was obviously premeditated, and when Yao Pingzhong and Zhang Jun were shocked to hear about this and rushed to the scene, You Yijun was gone!

If it weren't for the fact that the Jin army was afraid of attacking at night, it might cause chaos, but let the western army break through, so it didn't take the opportunity to attack, the western army of the north and west roads might have suffered a catastrophe!

The You Yi Army, originally part of the Huanqing Jingluo Pacification Division, surrendered, although the commander-in-chief could find many reasons to use as an excuse. But either way, it got off to a very bad start. According to the old practice, once someone surrenders against the water in times of crisis, it will definitely not be a single incident! If there is one, there are two!

In order to prevent any more people from defecting, Yao Pingzhong and Zhang Jun had to adopt the "change of tactics" and frequently change the guards at each entrance, not giving anyone with this heart any chance. But in this way, the burden on the soldiers, who were already so hungry that they walked crookedly, was even heavier! There are complaints in the army! There are constant rumors of "mutiny"!

This Western Army has reached the point of collapse...... South of the city of Juzhou, eighty miles away.

The convoys of the Jin army transporting the booty stretched for several miles, and the large and small carts were full of food, weapons, armor and other materials. Mules, horses, and donkeys, driven slowly by the soldiers of the Jin Army, seemed to be very carefree.

The person responsible for delivering the materials was the Yimouke Hedong Army. This time, in order to prevent the Western army from counterattacking, the Jin court mobilized troops to support Lou Su, and in addition to the Jin army, Li Zhi of Hedong also sent part of the army to accompany him. These signing troops can't fight, and they can only do some errands for the Jurchens.

"I said you didn't eat? Du Lisuo, go like this, and arrive in the state city tomorrow! Fast! A Khanmouk officer on a mule shouted. Mouke is not only a military rank, but also an establishment, a Mouke 300 households, the commander is a centurion.

"Brother Dutou, what's the hurry? The Jurchens surrounded the Western Army to death, it is rare for us to be so carefree, there is noodles, meat and wine on this car, should we stay on the road for a few more days, wouldn't it be happy? A junior officer laughed. Although they were controlled by the Jin army according to the Jurchen establishment, these Hedong signing troops were still used to their own set.

Nadu scolded with a smile, but he didn't refuse, and instead started to sigh: "You said that the Western Army is also good at fighting, right?" Hey, Zijin Tiger, have you heard of it? ”

"Who doesn't know the Purple Golden Tiger? Back then, he was the head of the rebel army in Hedong, and I was fortunate to see his true face in Pingyang Mansion when I was a rebel. One soldier boasted.

"Well, the Western Army is known as the division of tigers and wolves, and if you see it, in front of the Jurchens, you can only suffer defeat. In my opinion, this Shaanxi will not be able to be saved after all. Du Tou sighed. After all, it is the old country, and the feeling in his heart is really mixed.

"I heard people say, Shaanxi is where the ancestral dragon is, and the lifeblood of China is in Guanzhong. If Shaanxi dies, China will not be protected. Looking at it like this, I'm afraid that the Jurchens are going to sit on the throne. ”

"It doesn't matter who sits on the country, we have a bite to eat, just one to wear. In this chaotic world, human life is as cheap as dogs, but our brothers are okay, and they have never been hungry after following the marshal. Look at the Western Army, miserable! Du Tou shook his head.

As he was talking, someone suddenly shouted in front of him: "Dutou, a horse army is coming!" ”

"What are you crying about? How did you never see Ma Jun? Then he roared at his head, and then he looked out on his horseback, and saw a small group of cavalry galloping from the north. I'm afraid it's the cavalry of Dunzhou, right?